Sandy Cuts Short Pat-Med Winter Break

Winter break is being slashed by two days for Patchogue-Medford schools due to Hurricane Sandy, officials said. 

In a message to the community, Superintendent Michael Locantore said the Board of Education has decided that school will be in session on Thursday Feb. 21 and Friday Feb. 22. 

The district was closed for an entire week when the storm hit and only three school days are built into the calendar each year for weather-related emergencies, Locantore said. 

Adding the two days from winter break ensures 181 days of instruction this year, he said. The state mandates 180 class-days in order for districts to receive state funding. 

If additional school days are lost due to weather related emergencies prior to the February break, more days will be cut from that break, Locantore said. 

If additional school days are lost due to weather related emergencies after the February break, additional days may be taken from spring break, he said. 

Many districts across Long Island have already announced that they have cancelled their entire winter break due to the storm. Pat-Med schools re-opened on Monday Nov. 5 after the storm, while many other districts remained closed until Wednesday Nov. 7.